Health Care Assistant

**Job Overview**
We are seeking a compassionate and dedicated Healthcare Assistant (HCA) to join our primary care team. The HCA will support the delivery of high-quality patient care by assisting clinical staff in a range of duties within their scope of practice to the entitled patient population, this will include the provision of treatment, preventative care, health promotion and patient education whilst supporting the wider team. Working under the supervision of registered nurses or GPs, the HCA plays a vital role in ensuring efficient and patient-centered care. Strong communication skills, attention to detail, and a caring attitude are essential in this role.

**1. Main responsibilities**

**Clinical Duties**:

- Recording patients’ vital signs (e.g. blood pressure, pulse, temperature, oxygen saturation).
- Performing phlebotomy (taking blood samples).
- Conducting ECGs (electrocardiograms).
- Carrying out urine and stool sample testing (e.g. dipstick analysis).
- Administering injections and vaccinations (where appropriately trained).
- Assisting in wound care and dressing changes.
- Supporting chronic disease monitoring (e.g. diabetes, hypertension, asthma reviews).
- Conducting NHS Health Checks and routine health assessments.
- Measuring height, weight, and BMI.

**Administrative Support**:

- Accurately recording clinical data on the patient record system (e.g. EMIS, SystmOne).
- Preparing and maintaining clinical rooms and equipment.
- Supporting infection control procedures and maintaining stock levels.

**Patient Care & Communication**:

- Providing compassionate and respectful care to all patients.
- Offering lifestyle advice under the direction of a clinician (e.g. smoking cessation, weight management).
- Supporting patients with mobility or personal care needs during appointments.
- Acting as a chaperone during clinical examinations when required.

**Team Support**:

- Working collaboratively with GPs, nurses, and other practice staff.
- Participating in team meetings, training sessions, and quality improvement initiatives.
- Adhering to practice policies, protocols, and safeguarding procedures.

**2. Equality and Diversity**

The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, including:

- Acting in a way that recognizes the importance of people’s rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with Practice procedures and policies, and current legislation.
- Accept the rights of individuals to choose their care providers, participate in care and refuse care
- Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues.
- Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.

**3. Personal/Professional Development**

The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the Practice as part of this employment, such training including:

- Participation in an annual individual Appraisal and Development Review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development.
- Taking responsibility for own development, learning, and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others.
- This role is considered to be a developmental position and the jobholder will be encouraged to develop personal and business skills.

**4. Quality**

The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the Practice, and will:

- Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk.
- Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision.
- Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the team’s performance.
- Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients’ needs.
- Effectively manage own time, workload and resources.

**5. Safeguarding**:

- Be responsible for and committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of Adults-at-risk (vulnerable adults), children and young people and for ensuring that they are protected from harm.
- Be aware of your duties and responsibilities regarding current legislation and adhere to our policies and procedures on Child Protection and Safeguarding Adults.
- Recognise the types and signs of abuse and neglect.
- Ensure the Safeguarding Lead is alerted to, and kept fully informed of, any concerns you may have in relation to safeguarding adults, children and young people.

**6.** **Confidentiality**
- In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately.
- In the performance of the duties outlined in this Job Description, the post-holder may have access to confi